::: AUXILIARY MARKS - Hawaii Express Company Marks :::

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Datelined at Hilo on October 24, 1851, by the captain of the whaling ship Illinois. The letter was handled by Gregory's Express via Honolulu and bears the AUXEXP-GREGORY(oval) marking. The manuscript "Paid/25" in the upper right indicates the fee paid to the express company. Although there is no San Francisco marking, it is thought this cover was sent via San Francisco and the Panama route, as was normal for the time. The Illinois returned to the whaling grounds so the ship indicates the source of the letter, not the vessel carrying it. (Advertiser Sale, lot 2101; Courtesy Siegel Auction Galleries)

Five express companies operated in Hawaii [some argue A. P. Everett was a sixth, but as an expressman he worked for others; he was a forwarder when he applied his own handstamp – see Forwarder Agent Marks]. Four expresses were local offices of larger express companies headquartered in the United States. Only Pacific Express Co. (1855-1857) was headquartered in Honolulu. The other four were: Gregory's Express (1850-1853); Adams & Co. (1854-1855); Freeman & Co. (1857-1861); and Wells, Fargo & Co. (1853-1869; 1883-1889; 1894-1895). Of these companies, only Gregory's Express and Wells, Fargo & Co. (first and second periods only) are known to have used handstamps. See, in particular, Burt, Randall, "The Private Expresses of Hawaii," Western Express, October, 1988 to April, 1989 and "Wells Fargo in Hawaii," Western Express, July, 1989 to April, 1990, for histories and anecdotes of the express companies.

Six express marks are listed here. Davey, Rowe and the ASCC counted only two. Shaffer noted three. Number 5 in my list could contain two distinct marks but the omission of the date probably was inadvertent. So the count is either six or seven as you prefer. Marks placed by a sender to indicate an intention to utilize an express service are interesting but to be considered an express mark, the mark must have been placed by the express company agent. Thus, the following manuscript indications are not true express marks:

Gregory's Express

Gregory's Express opened for business in December, 1850 and closed its doors around March, 1853. Local merchants were appointed agents for Gregory's Express. They were, in time sequence: Mitchell & Hutchins (1850-1851), Mitchell & Co. (1851-1852), I. R. Mitchell (1852) and Fred L. Hanks (1852-1853) for Honolulu and Bolles & Co. (1852-1853) for Lahaina.

1.

AUXEXP-GREGORY(oval) Rarity 1RRRR Rowe: 10 oval 44mm x 24mm oval red circa October 24, 1851 Advertiser Sale, lot 2101 (Courtesy Siegel Auction Galleries)

Davey 654 Rowe ASCC Shaffer 8-7

GREGORY'S/ HONOLULU/ EXPRESS Usage: 1851-1853 Rowe: 1851-1852 ASCC: 1851-1852 Three strikes of this mark are recorded.

Wells, Fargo & Co.

Wells, Fargo & Co. opened its Honolulu express office by 1854. The first period closed in August, 1869. Local merchants were appointed to act as agents. In time sequence they were: Lewis & Co. (1854), Mitchell & Fales (1854), R. Coady & Co. (1855-1858), F. L. Hanks (1859-1860), A. J. Cartwright (1860), E. P. Adams (1860-1861), A. J. Cartwright (1861-1862), W. K. Snodgrass (1862-1863) and A. J. Cartwright (1863-1869). Wells, Fargo & Co. opened for business again on August 3, 1883. This second period lasted to August 2, 1889. In this period, its agents were: W. G. Ashley (1883), J. E. Wiseman & W. G. Ashley (1883-1884), W. G. Ashley (1884), S. M. Carter (1884) and G. W. McFarlane (1884-1889). Wells, Fargo & Co. marks are referenced to Leutzinger, John F., The Handstamps of Wells, Fargo & Co. (2d edition, 1993) in addition to other references used above.

2.

AUXEXP-WELLS(German script) Rarity 1RRRR oval 39mm x 23mm black circa 1860 Advertiser Sale, lot 3436 Courtesy Siegel Auction Galleries

Luetzinger 3-1 ASCC Unlisted by Davey, Rowe or Shaffer

WELLS, FARGO & CO/ Express/ HONOLULU Usage: July 16, 1860 ASCC: 185_-___ The word "Express" is in old German script. One cover with this strike has been dated as July 16, 1860. Two strikes are recorded.

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